Manchester City signal Champions League intent

Manchester City sounded out a warning to the rest of Europe about their Champions League ambitions with their 5-0 hammering of Steaua Bucharest Tuesday.

Records fell as the Citizens recorded their largest ever away victory in UEFA competition in dismantling last season’s Romania I League runner’s up 5-0.

In the process Pep Guardiola’s troops equaled Steaua’s largest ever defeat in UEFA competition.

While Steaua’s home field could not exactly be described as a fortress, the fact remains that they had lost only two of their last dozen UEFA matches there.

The result, courtesy of goals from David Silva, Nolito and a Sergio Aguero hat-trick, equaled City’s best ever showing, home or away, in UEFA competition dating back their first outing in the 1968/69 European Cup.

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“It was a great performance and great attitude from the players,” Guardiola told the official club website. “We played really, really good, the result is amazing but it’s the way we played which means I’m so satisfied. It’s a big compliment for these fantastic players.

“All of the managers in the world want to create chances and to concede few, that’s what we all want – OK, we are there, so now rest and then focus on Stoke and the second game.”

Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Nolito (L) celebrates with team mates after scoring during the UEFA Champions league first leg play-off football match between Steaua Bucharest and Manchester City at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest on August 16, 2016. / AFP / DANIEL MIHAILESCU (Photo credit should read DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images) /

Steaua had been unbeaten in their five previous competitive matches this season, winning four and drawing one. That draw was a creditable result in Prague in the previous round of the Champions League, securing a 1-1 draw against Sparta before eliminating them 3-1 on aggregate.

City hit 24 shots on the night, twelve of which were on target and hat-trick hero Aguero even managed to miss twice from the spot either side of Silva’s opening strike.

In true Guardiola fashion, City completed 550 of 629 pass attempts for a 87% completion rate. Nicholas Otamendi led City with 79 of 83 attempts.

“I think we played a really good game,” Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne told UEFA.com. “In the end Sergio Aguero scored three goals.